Utah State Aggies get first WAC win over inconsistent Hawaii

Utah State has already reached 'must-win' contests just two games into the WAC schedule. Look for the Aggies to put a beating on the visiting Hawaii Warriors on monday.

Utah State Aggies was the preseason WAC favorite, but after opening their conference schedule with two losses, the Aggies have got a lot of makeup work to do.

The Aggies haven't played since a 22-point blowout loss at Louisiana Tech last Monday night, and they've had six full days to get ready for tonight's game. It's always tough when you come home from a loss and you have to wait four to five days to play again.

Aggie guard/forward Pooh Williams said,"It gives you a lot of time to get better. The coaches have been really on us in practice; everybody has been getting after it. So, I feel we have gotten a lot better this week."

Utah St. plays on a strong home court, and being back in their comfort zone should give them a nice boost tonight.

"It's really nice to be home and not have to sleep in four different hotels, be in our own beds, but we don't have an easy task in Hawaii," Tai Wesley said. "They're very capable. We are not overlooking them at all."

There are a few reasons why this selection isn't rated stronger. Hawaii is somewhat of a bad matchup for Utah St because they are a bigger team that plays a physical style of basketball.

"Their size and athletic ability jump out at you," said USU head coach Stew Morrill when asked what concerns him most about tonight's opponent. "They are very good on the boards, play very physical.

"We've played Hawaii enough to know they certainly are capable of beating us."

Also among the reasons is the fact that Hawaii has played in a lot of close games this season. Of their eight losses, only one has come by more than 18 points which shows that they have 'hang-around' capability because of stud guard Roderick Flemings who is usually the best player on the court in the majority of WAC games.

And you just don't know what team will show up tonight.

"They are a little like us right now, a little up and down," Morrill said. "When you face a team like that, you hope to catch them on a down note, rather than an up note."